We’re taking over the youth ministry at our church — any ideas?
We, my husband and I, just got offered a position at a church to be the youth leaders. Their previous youth leader left and now the guy that teaches children’s church has been taking over. We’ve been sitting in with him and the youth a few times before we get up and teach.. I’m really excited about this because we’ve known for awhile we wanted to work in the ministry…
The only thing that makes me nervous is that there’s only about 4-6 teens in the youth and they never talk. Only one or two of them actually seem interested. Anyone have any ideas or resources on how to get these kids excited about God and coming to church? Any ideas on how to expand the youth?
By the way, right now, the guy only talks to them and shows them videos. There’s never really any activities or anything.. I’m hoping once we get started and do some activities, the kids will get more involved.
Show then this video…………….
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4136610474021109864&q=rawlings#
February 22nd, 2010 at 1:48 pm
Let them ask you any question they want.
Show them that you know what it is like to be them. Aside from the cyber bullying, its pretty much all the same. Sex, abortion, bullying, kids cheating, dating, sports, cool vs unpopular/lame kids…. etc.
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February 22nd, 2010 at 2:26 pm
Do them all a favour and close it down.
Let them learn their own truths.
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February 22nd, 2010 at 2:57 pm
The reason you only have 4-6 kids is because it is boring. You got to spice it up! Maybe take them to the zoo. Or bring in some games.
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February 22nd, 2010 at 3:33 pm
Pray!! Pray that the Lord gives you His grace and favor! The youth ministry is not an easy one but if you were called then you are meant for it!
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February 22nd, 2010 at 3:55 pm
Show then this video…………….
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4136610474021109864&q=rawlings#
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February 22nd, 2010 at 4:24 pm
Realize that this is about THEM – not you and your husband. Secondly; keep it fun and keep the fear-religion away from it. Remember; these are human beings, which you and your husband are working with – not "human doings". Keep the religion out of it and replace it with "relationship". If you do these things, you are well on your way to success.
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February 22nd, 2010 at 4:58 pm
Be completely honest and respectful and don’t front…they can tell.
A rare thing for youth pastors to be involved with but something I believe should be integral, is keeping up to date on grants and loans for college so you can help them make applications as the time comes up…most parents don’t have enough insight into this either, it’s a huge help to both parent and student to have some knowledgeable assistance.
Ask them what they want to do and keep track of their interests…don’t try to force them to do things you think are cool or remember what used to be cool when you were their age…times have changed, quickly!
And finally, learn how to keep their confidences…if they trust you, you will have more "success".
God bless in your new ministry.
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February 22nd, 2010 at 5:37 pm
Honest investigation is utterly impossible within the pale of any church, for the reason, that if you think the church is right you will not investigate, and if you think it wrong, the church will investigate you.
– Robert Green Ingersoll, "Individuality" (1873)
And the story goes on.
Have fun but watch what you say.
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How about
Every pulpit is a pillory, in which stands a hired culprit, defending the justice of his own imprisonment.
– Robert Green Ingersoll, "Individuality" (1873)
February 22nd, 2010 at 5:54 pm
Louie Giglio dvds rock…get them at any Mustard Seed. He usually speaks at colleges but the information is relevant to any age. He has a very informal but energetic approach and uses lots of science and medicine to drive home his points. You’ll all enjoy them.
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February 22nd, 2010 at 6:35 pm
Pray that the very thing God commanded, 2 Corinthians 4: 6 be facilitated; Father you commanded the light to shine out of darkness, and it has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ, i believe this to be your will and ask that you minister your Spirit to my husband and i so that we may in all sincerity minister as of the ability that God gives, 2 Corinthians 2: 17. So that as we do it is the Spirit ministering to thier hearts,
2 Corinthians 3: 3-6, LOOK UP THESE VERSES and pray them. Communicate back to God these truths so He hears faith, the faith which is in His Word, thus His will because therein is your confidence that He hears you, 1 John 5: 14-15.
Believe this is His will, and don’t second guess (waver) His Word. Pray pray and believe and keep believing. If the devil can move you away from God’s Word, he will have you doubting and in unbelief.
The moment you think or the thought that you must water down the Word so as for these little minds to understand, you won’t need the Holy Spirit any more and you will be on your own and be altogether as a baby sitter and anyone can do that. You can put a fifteen year old with some piercings playing a guitar and get those several you are concerned about interested, but in what?
If you start out in the Spirit and of faith than you will be commending your selves to their conscience and not the flesh. Even when you are handing out materal that ministers to the outward in part there is a spiritual ministering of the Spirit in it. Pray and believe, but pray the word of God so He’s hearing faith coming out from you. Don’t talk about sin but rather speak of God’s righteousness. you aren’t trying to convince them of sin but of righteousness, because they are there in the house of God, right. I’m not saying to erase the word sin when you are reading from the scripture, but always speak of God’s grace magnying His grace.
Pray acknowledging Romans 5: 17..Much more they who receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness shall reign in life, by ONE Jesus Christ. Always making mention of this the gift of God.
Father i thank you for the abundance of grce and the gift of righteousness so that we may reign in life through Jesus Christ our LORD, Father thank you, for the abundance of grace you make to abound toward us causing us to triumph in Christ making known the realities (the savor) of your knowledge by us in every place and in this place among these the youth ministry, raising up your children we commit ourselves to your abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness through Christ our LORD, Amen. 2 Corinthians 2:14
Keep their minds on the Word of Love Faith and Hope, and the trust we have in Christ toward God, the ministry of the Spirit, for the LORD is that Spirit, 2 Corinthians 3: 17-18, and 4: 1-2
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February 22nd, 2010 at 7:24 pm
1. I agree with Tofu, bring them on a trip or something.
2. Have youth groups from other churches come in and talk about the differences in opinion.
3. BBQ’s and games are always fun, get them outside.
4. Have you ever watched the movie Licensed to Wed? Watch the beginning where the pastor is in the youth group. Absolutely halarious, and the kids were really into it. Here is a link: ” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBPC-t17vpU ”
5. Give the kids job’s to do.
6. Have THEM come up with a few ideas based on moralities.
7. Teach them this song: ” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ar_k8JjVWQA ” (its really funny, but oddly educational)
8. Bring in a doll place it on a chair and ask them what they would do if they learned the doll was an atheist/homosexual ect. This will teach them to accept that there are a variety of people in the world and the importance to share your ideas with the other persons feelings in mind. (example: your not going to convince an atheist into your frame of mind by telling them they deserve to go to hell)
9. Don’t center the entire thing on religion, sometimes kids just want to have fun (christian style) and that’s probably the reason they came anyways.
10. Have the preist come in. Usually the kids don’t get to talk to the preist outside of mass or confession, have them get to know him a little better.
11. Competitions
12. Let them chew gum and they will love you.
13. Stay away from christian music, teens don’t like it. If anything, put on the radio at an acceptable background level.
14. Suggest books that have a religious core.
15. Give them candy.
16. Have them help organize fundraisers
17. Make it like a GirlGuides
18. Read a Bible verse and have them role-play or act it out, let them use props and costumes. Its fun dressing up as Jesus and God.
19. Associate Bible stories with modern day situations. (Jesus Christ Superstar is an excellent DVD for reference)
20. You have to make Bible stories fun or they will lose interest very quickly.
21. Ask them questions. Like ” What do you know about God ” or ”What do you think heaven is? ”
22. Give them homework. Not like paper and pen but challenges. For example ask them to do one act of random kindness and report back the next week to tell of their experiments.
23. Have them draw. Teens love to express themselves and art is a fantastic way to do it. Have them draw what they think jesus looks like, or what they think God might look like.
24. Tell them to draw a symbole that represents how they feel about religion, a cross maybe, or a heart, and then tell them to put it in their room where they will see it everyday so they have something to help them remember previous discussions ect.
25. Ask the pastor or priest for ideas. You may be surprised.
26. Bring food to the meetings. Teenagers are always hungry, make a fruit tray or something, it breaks the akwardness and starts discussion which may help your ”quiet kids” situation.
27. Have them write alternative endings to Bible stories. What would/should they have done in certain characters positions?
28. Stroll up to the front on your first day and say ”Has anyone ever noticed that God spelled backwards is dog?” Jokes are always a good starting point.
29. Play Bible Jeopardy.
30. Have them write in Bible Journals or Faith Journals. You can easily purchace small Journals at the dollar-store. Ask them to write in it weekly about the topics you disscuse.
31. Less sermon, more disscussion.
32. Let them ask questions and answer them honestly.
33. The easiest way to make it interesting and fun is to bring humour into it, tell jokes.
I have a favour to ask you, considering you are a christian, I think it would be really kind and generous of you if you didn’t tell the kids that atheists are souless monsters. Thanks.
References :
” http://baptist-church.suite101.com/article.cfm/youth_ministry_activities ”
” http://www.child-bible-lessons.com/childbiblegames.html ”